An indisputable professional who has been heralded as a prince everywhere he’s ever played, Knight will bring a measure of adequacy to the Clippers’ point guard situation. He can distribute the basketball – and has some sick assist rates to prove it. In 45 games last season, Knight posted an assist ratio of 36.5, good for 6th in the Association, and that number represents a measurable falloff from years past. His turnover ratio is okay, but that’s probably more a function of his short stature [he’s 5’ 10” with kicks] than sloppiness.

Knight’s shortcomings – and this is a particular sticky point with the Clippers – come in his inability to hit the outside shot, though he’s reasonably proficient from about 15-17. In four years at Stanford culminating with the 1942 NCAA Championship under Howie Dallmar, Knight hit only 93 3PM in 3,703 minutes. And let’s just say he hasn’t exactly expanded his range in the pros. On a post team whose big men [to the extent there are any left] need room to maneuver below the stripe, not allowing the defense to sag and clog the passing lanes is imperative. Since Mobley demands no double-team and the Clips don’t move a whole lot, look for Chris Kaman to play farther off the block and to experience some of the problems he had last season. If you’ve got an assassin on the wing who can hit from the new Ralph’s on 9th, then you can make do with a non-shooter at the point. But so long as the Clippers stockpile players who can’t shoot from any appreciable distance, they’re going to have trouble scoring, all the more so with Elton on the shelf.

Knight will help the Clippers with their only viable strategy next season: Racking up ugly wins with some expert defensive efficiency. I haven’t seen Knight play much since he landed in Charlotte, but early in his career with Cleveland, he was a superb on-ball defender in the Mookie Blaylock mold. In his scouting report, John Hollinger maintains that Knight has “the fastest hands in basketball,” and this pressure on the ball will shorten Clipper opponents’ possessions. The sad truth is when you consider the terrifying alternative of Troy Hudson, the worst defensive professional basketball player in recent memory, Knight is the best remaining solution at the point for the Clippers.

As presently constituted, the Los Angeles Clippers are a 25-30 win team.

Posted Wednesday, October 29 at 3:20PM

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As far as Jordan, I think it's going to be a post-training-camp decision whether to sign him or Guillermo Diaz. It was kind of hard to tell which of them would mesh the best with the team after the Summer League performances because they both did well in different things. Dia scored. Jordan assisted and ran the point really well. That roster decision will probably be the last one the team makes before the regular season begins.

Clips are in all likelihood a lottery bound team next season but 25-30 wins is a tad harsh. The Hawks, Bobcats, Sonics, and Knicks all racked up 30 or more wins last season despite tanking. At the very least, we have a very respectable defensive squad with a collection of talented, athletic scorers which in my opinion is worth at least 35-40 wins.

Seriously, folks should calm down. I know coupled with the Livingston injury this seems like the end, but like Jorge says let's wait and see how we do the first couple months of the season. If we can tread water, and hover around .500, we'll be okay. Does anyone really doubt, given his work ethic, drive and determination, that Brand will be back anytime later than January 1st? If a fat-ass like Stanley Roberts can make it back, EB will be fine. If anything, this will help our young bigs develop, and when Brand comes back this team will really start rolling.